Note: While review will be spoiler free, it does make reference to previous books in the series. If you haven’t started yet, check out VBC’s review of Skinwalker.

There’s so much happening in Dark Queen, I’m still trying to process it. I’m not sure it’s possible to explain it without spoiling it. This is definitely a case where you need to be caught up on the series before starting the book. Jane’s in a very different place now than where she started. The fate of America’s vampires, as well as the rest of the population, hangs in the balance and will ultimately fall on Jane’s shoulders.

For most of the book I was convinced Dark Queen was the series finale. It turns out that it was originally intended to be. And Jane certainly would have gone out with a bang. (Or maybe a slice since these vampires use swords.) All of the buildup—like the last four or five books’ worth—to the battle with the European vampires was worth it for this action-packed climax.

But it took a little while to get there. I almost feel like this could have been two separate books. It is noticeably longer than normal, but not actually double. Maybe it could have used a clearly labeled part one and part two. Before she gets to the big battle, Jane deals with human police, werewolf politics, an ex-boyfriend, and a surprise visitor who changes everything she thought she knew about her past. She also has some great moments with most of the members of her entourage, the newly-formed Clan Yellowrock. My favorites were the ones between Eli and Beast.

By the end, almost everything has changed. Though some of it’s confusing, like in a wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey way. And Jane doesn’t handle it all very well. She’s spent so much time over the last few books building her found family, and in the end she’s kind of a dick to them. I’m frustrated with her even though she ends up in a hopeful place. I hope she’ll be making it up to everyone in the next book. She’ll definitely be a little different than she was when Dark Queen started.

I completely agree with everything you said. I had re-read the entire series before reading DQ and I’m glad I did because otherwise I don’t think i would have been able to follow it. I also felt frustrated that there was some big build up to certain things, then for Jane to almost opt out of them altogether, or kill one evil VIP then check out of everything else. Particularly the aftermath of the final battle, she has responsibilities but luckily has a lot of caring people shouldering these on her behalf since she doesn’t step up herself. I kind of wish this was the final book because I’m worried that any sequels are going to seem a bit like an afterthought. Loved Eli and Beast, loved the whole Clan formation sequence (went back and read it again twice).